THE WHITSUNDAYS Arts Festival returns with a grand celebration of the creative community, inviting audiences to experience fun, interactive, and vibrant arts events.
Now in its third year, the Whitsundays Arts Festival offers an even bigger program.
Enjoy the sights and sounds in the form of fine arts, live original music, arts workshops, multicultural performances, handmade markets, and impressive installations.
“The two-week Festival is reimagined this year as audiences and visitors are welcomed into beautiful settings around the Whitsundays, including 5-star resorts, The Belvedere at Toscana, the new Proserpine Entertainment Centre, and Fairy Tree Park on the Airlie Beach foreshore.”, festival president Jess Begun said.
The official Opening Ceremony is on Saturday, September 24, on the Airlie Beach foreshore, followed by the ever-popular Handmade Art Markets on Sunday, September 25, which will host more than 50 stalls from all around Queensland.
The festivities include mandala-making on the beach, Aboriginal art exhibition and storytelling, African drumming, Torres Strait Island dancers, ukulele workshops and performances, Fijian performers, and a dance performance by Tchundal Malar Aboriginal Dance Troupe with fire demonstrations and didgeridoo.
There’s also a dedicated marquee for the kids, who can join artists Sofia Fortunato and Lisa Ashcroft for free art workshops.
The Whitsundays Art Prize Exhibition runs from Friday, September 23 -30, and will feature more than 70 works from 63 artists across the Whitsundays region and around Australia.
Just Write©
The winners of the Whitsundays News Just Write© writing competition, in conjunction with WAF, are:
The 11–14-year-old category – Alessa Penglase-Fortunato for ‘The Memory Game’.
The 15-18-year-old category – Rachel Hutchinson for ‘House of Memories’.
See the WN Facebook page for photos of the winners receiving their prizes.
